Amo Introduces Bill to Stop Failed Property Developer Trump from Acquiring NATO Territory

Washington, DC - TODAY, House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI); Lead Democrat for the Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA); Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus Co-Chair Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Bill Keating (D-MA), and 15 additional House Democrats introduced the No Outsourcing of National Assets to Treaty Organizations for Purchase Act or NO NATO for Purchase Act to prevent federal funds from being used to buy Greenland or any other NATO country or territory.

"Trump should be focused on fixing the health care and affordability crises he's inflicting on families, instead he's fixated on strong-arming a NATO ally into selling their land under threat of invasion," said House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI). " I introduced the NO NATO for Purchase Act to make crystal clear to Donald Trump that not one cent of taxpayer dollars can be used to buy our NATO allies. Denmark and our NATO partners have stood by us before and deserve respect, not extortion. Trump needs to act like the President of the United States, not a real estate speculator playing geopolitical mob boss."

"For nearly 80 years, we have stood side-by-side with our NATO allies to keep Americans safe." said Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), the Lead Democrat for the Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. "Donald Trump's threats to invade Greenland or force Denmark to sell the territory would end NATO as we know it and plunge us into a dark, new world. I urge every Member of Congress to support this legislation and send a clear message that we will not tolerate threats and intimidation toward our NATO allies."

"We have nothing to gain in Greenland and everything to lose. Purchasing or seizing the island - both absurd ideas - would cost America dearly, alienating our allies and emboldening our enemies," said Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus Co-Chair Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD). "Short of raising the Stars and Stripes over Nuuk, Trump has yet to articulate a single strategic objective in Greenland that we cannot already achieve through our 75-year-old agreement with our Danish allies. I strongly support this legislation, because in trying to make America look larger on the map, Donald Trump makes us look smaller in the eyes of the world."

"The idea of purchasing a sovereign nation or its territory, when they do not agree, is absurd. I cannot believe we are even having this conversation," said House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Bill Keating (D-MA). "Serious times call for serious leaders and solutions. The Trump administration's rhetoric regarding our allies is detrimental to our national security. It is the antithesis of an America first policy. We must make clear that Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, stands with our European allies because the Trump administration is failing to do so."

The NO NATO for Purchase Act would ban the use of federal government funds to purchase any NATO country or NATO-protected territory. Threatening to purchase NATO territories or annex them by force makes us all less safe, less secure, and less able to deal with the rising threats of China and Russia.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Madeline Dean (D-PA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), John Garamendi (D- CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara McBride (D-DE), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Noem (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

Background

In the aftermath of military action in Venezuela, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Greenland, a NATO protected territory.

Trump has also threatened the sovereignty of Canada, remarking that the NATO country should be "the 51st state."

The United States is the only nation to invoke NATO's Article 5 defense clause.

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Denmark and other NATO allies deployed troops to Afghanistan in support of the United States. Between 2002 and 2014, 43 Danish soldiers were killed while supporting the United States' efforts in Afghanistan.

As Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Amo is committed to supporting American national security and strengthening alliances abroad.

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